147 pp. One of three children's books by Helprin illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. Driven to avenge the murder of her royal parents and reclaim their lost kingdom, the daring young heroine and would-be queen journeys to the besieged city on the plain to seek out its eveil conqueror, the Usurper. Mark Helprin's spellbing tale reveals a city veiled in snow, at once divine and deadly. Van Allsburg's stunning illustrations supply a palpable richness which captures all the exhilarating expanse of the story. Chris Van Allsburg, the Caldecott Award winning author of The Polar Express and Jumanji, provides 13 color illustrations.
